Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 02, November 27, 2024
(1)
Electrical
Installation - All stationary electrical equipment, which might
communicate fire to adjacent flammable material shall be of a type which will
confine the heat and flames within the equipment or it shall be so located and
installed that flammable material will not be ignited. This rule does not apply
to conduit wiring or to approved enclosed externally operable
switches.
(2)
Fireproofing Mine Entrances and Stations - Where it is
determined by the Department that a serious fire hazard exists, mine openings
for a distance of fifty (50) feet from the surface and underground stations
having a fire hazard, shall be constructed of fireproof material or maintained
in a nonflammable condition. The use of water, steel supports, concrete,
granite, cement plaster or other fire resistant material satisfactory to the
Department is recommended. It is further recommended that at regular intervals,
in the main shafts and haulage ways, certain sections be made fireproof, to
serve as fire barriers.
(3)
Heating Devices Underground - Fire for personal warmth
shall not be permitted underground and open torches, acetylene lamps, electric
heaters, (except approved electric heaters used for baking armatures), and
candles shall not be left unattended in any mine in the vicinity of wood or
other flammable material. This shall not be construed to prohibit the use of
torches or heating devices necessary for mechanical repairs, provided such
devices have continuous attendance while lighted, and all flammable material
within a radius of five (5) feet of the work being done has been removed or
made wet with water before work is commenced and after the repairs have been
finished.
(4)
Exits to
be Passable in Case of Fire - Each mine required to maintain a
second exit or travelway shall protect underground employees against the hazard
of all exits or travelways becoming impassable because of fire or fire gases,
by one or more of the following methods:
(a)
By fireproofing the main drift, slope or shaft and slope stations, provided
that where there is no fire hazard sufficient to interrupt the use of the main
hoist for rescue purposes, such conditions shall be a sufficient
compliance.
(b) By maintaining a
connecting passageway between working levels or sections of such mine and an
adjoining operating mine.
(c) By
such mechanical control of the air currents as will permit the supplying of
fresh intake air through any shaft or escapeway by reversal of air currents, if
necessary.
(d) By installation of
fire-proof, smoke-proof and gas-proof doors satisfactory to the
Department.
(5)
Fire Doors and Bulkheads - Where it is determined by
the Department that a serious fire hazard exists in a mine, then emergency fire
doors or bulkheads shall be placed according to a plan to be submitted to and
approved by the Department to prevent smoke and gases from cutting off the
escape of men. Such doors may also be used for the control of normal mine
ventilation.
(a) Such bulkheads, door frames,
and fire doors shall be constructed of fireproof material and so placed and
maintained that they can be readily closed and will be reasonably
gas-tight.
(b) Fire doors shall be
provided with suitable latches or other suitable devices so that they may be
opened from either side, but cannot be opened by the reversal of the air
current.
(6)
Fire Warnings - A fire alarm system adequate to give
warning of a fire to all employees who are working above and below ground shall
be provided and maintained in good working condition in all mines. Stench
warnings, telephone systems or light blinker systems are suggested.
(a) Notice of a fire must be given to all
employees concerned above and below ground immediately upon discovery of a fire
in or near the mine.
(b) At any
mine where it is determined by the Department that the workings constitute a
local or general fire hazard, the following fire fighting apparatus shall be
provided and maintained in good order and available for instant use:
1.
Fire Fighting
Equipment - A supply of water for fire fighting so distributed
that a stream of water can be had at any active working section of a mine, or
unsealed section abandoned after the effective date of these rules in which a
fire hazard exists and through timbered and nonfireproofed portions of the
shaft or slope, with necessary connections for the attachment of hose and an
adequate supply of hose so arranged that it can readily be put in a skip, cage,
or other conveyance. Hose shall be kept at the mine entrance, in each working
section, and at such other places as may be required by the
Department.
2. Where the water
supply is inadequate or cannot practicably be applied to meet the requirements
of these rules, special fire fighting equipment and protection, according to a
plan to be submitted to and approved by the Department, shall be
supplied.
3. All equipment for fire
protection purposes, when one and one-half (1 1/2) inches or larger, shall be
equipped with standard threads for fire hose couplings and hydrant fittings as
adopted by the National Board of Fire Underwriters.
4. For couplings under one and one-half (1
1/2) inches, standard equipment couplings shall be used.
5. A supply of sand, rock dust or other
incombustible dust shall be provided where electrical equipment such as motors,
transformers, etc., are located underground, or one or more fire extinguishers
of an approved type for electrical fires.
6. There shall be provided at all mine
openings where flammable structures exist within one hundred (100) feet of the
opening, a system of fire hydrants with sufficient hose or monitors properly
placed and connected with the main water supply system.
7.
Maintenance of Fire
Extinguishers - All equipment intended solely for fire fighting
purposes shall be tested or carefully inspected at monthly intervals and
defective equipment repaired or replaced immediately. All hand chemical fire
extinguishers of the soda acid type shall be discharged, inspected and refilled
every twelve (12) months and the date of last refilling marked on a tag
attached to the extinguisher. Special care must be taken to keep the nozzles of
chemical fire extinguishers free from corrosion.
8. Special provisions shall be made to
protect fire extinguishers whose effectiveness is destroyed by cold.
9. Fire extinguishers shall be so placed that
they will always be accessible in case of fire within the area in which such
fire extinguishers may be used.
(7)
Fire and Safety
Diagram - Within ninety (90) days after the effective date of
these rules each mine employing twenty-five (25) or more men underground shall
prepare a diagram showing the position of (1) exit, (2) manways, (3) tunnels,
(4) shafts, (5) fire doors, (6) fire extinguishers, (7) water lines available
for fire fighting, (8) telephones, (9) refuge places. Such diagram need not
show boundary lines, outlines of ore bodies, or other details not essential for
the safety of the employees. Legible copies of said diagram shall be available
in the mine office. They shall be brought to date at least once in six months.
(a) At each mine, there shall be an
organization for fire prevention, fire control and rescue work. The members of
the organization shall be instructed in their duties and a plan of action shall
be posted on the mine bulletin board. Fire drill for fire organization members
shall be held once every sixty (60) days.
(8)
Storage of Flammable
Materials and Oils - Oils and other dangerous flammable material
shall be stored in a covered building kept solely for such storage, which
building shall be at least one hundred (100) feet from any shaft, tunnel or
other mine opening or building over a mine opening, and at least one hundred
feet from any powder magazine; provided, that petroleum products may be stored
in a tank or tanks buried in the ground, which tank or tanks shall be provided
with proper vents, and shall be placed at least one hundred (100) feet from any
shaft, tunnel or other mine opening, or building over a mine opening, and at
least one hundred (100) feet from any explosives magazine.
(a) Tanks containing flammable liquids shall
be so located that the escaping liquid cannot run over the surface from such
tank to any mine opening or building, within one hundred (100) feet of any mine
opening. Under no circumstances shall oxygen or inflammable gas be stored in
proximity to oil.
(b) At all places
where gasoline, distillate, oil or other flammables are stored, approved
electric lights with switch outside of storage place shall be installed, if
electricity is available, in order to obviate the use of open lights.
(c) Lubricating oils, greases, rope dressings
and fuel oils taken underground shall be kept in approved closed metal
containers that will not permit the contents to leak out or spill; provided
that lubricants including fuel oils may be stored in reasonable quantities if
stored in a fire-proof compartment connecting with the return airway direct to
the surface, and in such manner that the oil from a ruptured or overturned
container will not flow from its storage place.
1. Lubricants and fuel oils used in sections
must be kept in approved metal containers kept securely closed when not in use,
in minimum quantities for operations. Reasonable quantities, however, may be
stored in a fire-proof compartment connecting with return airway direct to the
surface and in such manner that the oil from a ruptured or overturned container
will not flow from its storage place.
2. Five hundred pounds of rock dust or sand
or a chemical liquid, gas or dry dust fire extinguisher suitable for use in
extinguishing oil and grease fires shall be kept convenient to each oil or
grease storage room in mines.
(d) No oil shall be taken underground for
illuminating purposes.
(9)
Flammable Material
Underground - The use of gasoline underground is forbidden except
in small amounts such as is required for blow torches or miners' safety lamps.
(a) The use of fuel burning engines or
locomotives and internal combustion engines underground is forbidden, unless
the engine or locomotive or internal combustion engine has been approved by the
Department for such use.
(b)
Flammable or other rubbish shall be promptly removed from the mine or placed at
a point within the mine where it will not constitute a fire hazard.
(c) All discarded oily waste used about
underground machinery shall be deposited in closed metal receptacles. The
contents of the receptacle shall be sent to the surface when it is full.
Author: Marcus Davis, Workers' Compensation
Examiner.
Statutory Authority:
Code of Ala.
1975, §
25-2-13(2).
